So the Japanese Beetles have started to show up in force here in central Pa. I've used Bayer 3
in 1 on the roses and hope that slowes them down a little. I'm thinking of trying some milky spore on the lawn and garden.
It probably won't do much for this year but they claim it lasts for up to ten years. just wondereing if anyone has any experience using this stuff.

I used milky spore on a windy day and didn't use any respiratory protection. I had a tiny touch of cold symptoms for a few days after. It was not at all serious, but I did worry a bit.

So I guess It might be best to use it when the soil is physically damp, and the air is still. And to apply it so that it doesn't float through the air much. Maybe use a cheap respirator while spreading it around.

You are so lucky to have never experienced these things. Fortunately we don't have them in the UK but when I lived in Maine they were the bane of my life. Absolutely hated the sight of them. Apart from lily beetles they are one of the most destructive pests I've come across.

I put down Milky Spore 2 yrs. ago.
Last year the JB were late so I'm wondering this year if they're late again OR my MS is kicking in. Last year the first summer after application I can't say that the numbers were down but so far activity is very light this year whereas in previous years they've been in biblical plague numbers.
Gosh I HOPE the MS is kicking in.
This year I got 3 reusable Japanese Beetle traps from Great Lakes IPM http://www.greatlakesipm.com/g...
that has a sex/rose scent lure and I'm not even getting that many in the traps.
I notice greatly reduced mole activity since we put the Milky Spore down
even 1st year after application.
It sure would be nice to not have my rose crop destroyed this year.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the MS is doing its job!
Will keep you posted.

zuzu said:According to my recollections of past years, you should be tearing your hair out by now, so it must be working. Congratulations! Now, what horrible punishment can we devise for those rose chafers?

Yes, but they were late last year so I'm not sure yet.

Nematodes for the Rose Chafers but since I'm the Queen of Procrastination
I haven't put any down yet. MUST do that this year!

I have some, but less than last year. I think the Bayer systemic is helping. I also put on the bug zappers at night. That gets a lot of the beetles. (Both the Japanese ones and the tan ones). I am not sure what the tan ones are, but they like roses also.

I drown them in soapy water, cut off eaten parts of the plant and throw the mess away daily. I also treated the affected parts of the plant and the ground below the rose with Sevin. The beetles are focusing on Austin's Wildeve, probably because it is the tallest rose.

I spoke too soon.
They're here but numbers seem somewhat lower (maybe)
but since I've been too busy and its been too hot to
be out over the last week I'm satill not sure if I have
less beetles for sure.

I have two zappers in front - the bf can't resist a bug zapper at a yard sale. One has a basin underneath that I have to empty every couple of days-blech. It holds about a cup of dusty bug remains., so I guess about 1/2 cup max per night. Each morning I have to sweep the sidewalk because the other one has an open bottom. Two days ago there were several dozen beetle carcasses on the sidewalk and lots of dust. It makes a noticeable difference in the number of gnats as well. I don't have the zappers on in rainy weather, of course.

I am seeing less beetle damage this year. I am not certain if it is due to less beetles or if the Bayer/dust/zappers are working.

I'll see as soon as the sun is up. Need to do some major deadheading and other garden tasks. It has been too hot for me once the sun hits the garden at about 9am. The heat has turned most of the grass brown, although I kept what little grass that hasn't been taken over by gardens watered. Maybe the grubs will starve?

We started using Milky Spore when we moved to Ohio 3 years ago, this is our 3rd season. The 1st 2 seasons our roses were covered in mobs of JBs, last year was the worst - it was just heart breaking. We kept putting down the Milky Spore throughout the season and into the fall. This spring we added another application.
I swear by it now - personal experience is hard to beat, I am totally impressed with the results. We've had a few but not enough to to even bother with.
It takes time but it works, nothing I've ever tried, chemical or organic, has worked so well.

This is the 2nd year after MS application and the numbers are down but still enough to do a lot of damage. I do have JB 3 traps set out as well that catch quite a few but its not like I have to empty them daily.

I drowned 9 of them this morning before it started to rain. There are less than last year, but they still are devouring my blooms. They like Wildeve. It may be because it is my largest rose, twice the height and width as any other and always with at least a few sprays of blooms. Souvenir de la Malmaison and Honey Sweet are nearby, but they beetles don't like them.